Emergency workers in Tonga are completing their final sweep of the nation to determine where to direct resources.

The secretary general of Tonga Red Cross, Sione Taumoefolau, says supplies are being given to residents who have lost everything, beginning with the distribution of five hundred tents.

Tonga's director of emergencies, Leveni Aho, has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat it is allowing some of the displaced to move out of emergency shelters.

"The tents will give them the option to go back, to start going back to their respective places," he said.

"Although they have lost a house, they can at least start go back and put their belongings, or find their belongings."

It as so strong, all the houses gone and it actually lifted cars, lifted cars and moved buses.

Ha'apai cyclone witness Moeaki Halaevalu

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says around 2,000 people are currently in 11 evacuation centres across the region.

A Tongan-born resident of Australia has described the force of Cyclone Ian, which struck over the weekend, saying it lifted cars and buses into the air.

Moeaki Halaevalu was visiting relatives in the Ha'apai islands when the cyclone hit and survived with only the clothes he was wearing.

"It as so strong, all the houses gone and it actually lifted cars, lifted cars and moved buses," he said.

Tongan journalist Monalisa Palu returned from Ha'apai Monday where she was among the first reporters to visit.

From the capital Nuku'alofa, she told Australia Network there's a lot of devastation but also a lot of spirit.

"In the midst of this devastation, the people there are working together, already cleaning up before supplies arrive, and they just want to reassure everyone that they are okay," she said.

Contact re-established

Tongan authorities say they have made contact with most of the smaller islands, home to about 8,000 people, with reports of extensive damage.

Efforts to restore power are continuing, and troops have been deployed to help clear roads.

On Monday, the Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners joined the Tongan prime minister, Siale'ataongo Tu'ivakano, and other senior figures in inspecting the damage.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has announced Australia will provide an initial $AU50,000 in emergency supplies to assist the response, and pledges to work closely with the Tongan government to support their efforts.

The Australian High Commission in Nuku’alofa has been contacting Australians in the affected region to determine their safety and welfare.

New Zealand pledged $NZ50,000 for immediate response efforts and sent in the air force to assist in assessing damage.

However, Tongan New Zealanders are frustrated that Tonga has not officially asked New Zealand for assistance with the clean-up from Cyclone Ian.